Napa County Airport
Encyclopedia
Napa County Airport , also known as Napa Valley Airport, is a public airport
located five miles (8 km) south of Napa
, in Napa County
, California
, USA
. It has three runway
s.
During 2008, the airport's 1960-era control tower received extensive radio, plumbing and electrical upgrades and renovations funded by the federal government. At the time of these renovations, airport officials claimed that the airport had about 122,000 flights take off or land at the facility annually.
Hamilton Army Airfield. 4th Air Force used the base as a training base for replacement fighter pilots, primarily flying P-38 Lightning
s before being deployed to combat units in overseas areas.
Following World War II
, the airfield property was deeded to Napa County by the War Assets Administration
for civilian use. The airport soon became a business hub for what was once a rural, sparsely populated portion in the southern end of the county. Jonesy's Restaurant opened for business in 1946 at the airport and was a longtime favorite of locals and visitors. The restaurant remained in business for 63 years before closing in 2010. By 1947 half a dozen small businesses had opened at the facility but only Bridgeford Flying Service remained open past the first year and still remains in business today. In 1971 International Air Services Company and Japan Airlines opened a flight training school at the airport. In June 2010 Japan Airlines announced that it would be closing its training facility as part of a bankruptcy reorganization plan.
Airport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
located five miles (8 km) south of Napa
Napa, California
-History:The name Napa was probably derived from the name given to a southern Nappan village whose people shared the area with elk, deer, grizzlies and cougars for many centuries, according to Napa historian Kami Santiago. At the time of the first recorded exploration into Napa Valley in 1823, the...
, in Napa County
Napa County, California
Napa County is a county located north of the San Francisco Bay Area in the U.S. state of California. It is coterminous with the Napa, California, Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010 the population is 136,484. The county seat is Napa....
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It has three runway
Runway
According to ICAO a runway is a "defined rectangular area on a land aerodrome prepared for the landing and take-off of aircraft." Runways may be a man-made surface or a natural surface .- Orientation and dimensions :Runways are named by a number between 01 and 36, which is generally one tenth...
s.
During 2008, the airport's 1960-era control tower received extensive radio, plumbing and electrical upgrades and renovations funded by the federal government. At the time of these renovations, airport officials claimed that the airport had about 122,000 flights take off or land at the facility annually.
History
The airport was built by the United States Army Air Force about 1942, and was known as Napa Flight Strip. It was an emergency landing airfield for military aircraft on training flights. It was expanded later in the war and was re designated as Napa Army Airfield, becoming an auxiliary airfield of the Fourth Air ForceFourth Air Force
The Fourth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Reserve . It is headquartered at March Air Reserve Base, California....
Hamilton Army Airfield. 4th Air Force used the base as a training base for replacement fighter pilots, primarily flying P-38 Lightning
P-38 Lightning
The Lockheed P-38 Lightning was a World War II American fighter aircraft built by Lockheed. Developed to a United States Army Air Corps requirement, the P-38 had distinctive twin booms and a single, central nacelle containing the cockpit and armament...
s before being deployed to combat units in overseas areas.
Following World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the airfield property was deeded to Napa County by the War Assets Administration
War Assets Administration
The War Assets Administration was established in the Office for Emergency Management, effective March 25, 1946, by EO 9689, January 31, 1946. American factorieshad produced massive amounts of weaponry during the World War II...
for civilian use. The airport soon became a business hub for what was once a rural, sparsely populated portion in the southern end of the county. Jonesy's Restaurant opened for business in 1946 at the airport and was a longtime favorite of locals and visitors. The restaurant remained in business for 63 years before closing in 2010. By 1947 half a dozen small businesses had opened at the facility but only Bridgeford Flying Service remained open past the first year and still remains in business today. In 1971 International Air Services Company and Japan Airlines opened a flight training school at the airport. In June 2010 Japan Airlines announced that it would be closing its training facility as part of a bankruptcy reorganization plan.
See also
External links
- Napa Valley Airport (official site)